DanB

I spent sometime in Clearwater 2 years ago on hols and just fell in love with the place- sunshine, beach , sunshine, bars IHOP etc.
I know there are some ex-pats living around the area because I spoke to a few when watching the England-Germany world cup qualifier (finished 1-5 in case you wondered (I still get a tingly feeling in my stomach when I think about it))

Anyway I would really love to hear from anyone living around this area who has a young family like mine (2 girls five and six) and have recently emmigrated. Was I looking at it through holiday specs and just seeing the good bits? Is the schooling good, whats the crime like, has your quality of life improved etc....

We would be really grateful for any help/advice.

England, I'm afraid seems to be losing its appeal and its time to move onto BIGGER and BETTER things.

DanB

I guess there is no expats in Clearwater?


Are there any in florida area that can give any advice about taking a young family out there to live?

Thanks

BrigieDarling

There are loads of ex-pats in Florida (my dad for one) ... It's not my cup of tea to live there... we bought a house in Daytona a few years back but sold it before moving, opting to stay in Connecticut!

Look into employment first (Florida is notoriously low in pay scales) -- But, your daughters would probably be happy to live there.

can't make up your mind for you mate... nothing ventured, nothing gained... but as always... Do your homework!

DanB

Thanks for the advice

Love your picture, is that really you?

excpomea

I live in Tallahassee about 100 or so miles North of Clearwater.
But I have friends who live down that way.
We all love it.
The schools depends on your exact location.
For instance if you live on the South side of my town the schools are really bad, some are actually failing.
I found it very difficult to comprehend when I first moved here.
Basically, it's black and white. South side is black the North is white.
I would guess it's a form of instatutionalized racism. We have our schools, churches ect they have theirs.

When we first came her we were in Miami, now that was bad. We felt so out of place, everything was too fast and we couldn't understand the locals. They all spoke Spanish.
I'm far too old to learn a new language. So we moved up here to Tally.
It's a wonderful place to raise a family but as the lady says, wages are low. For instance my wife is a pediatric intensive care nurse with 18 years experiance but only makes $25 per hr. Up North she could be making $80 doing the same job.
Of course a house up there would cost us a few hundred thousand whereas here we only paid $110K for a 4 bedroom, double garage, single level home with land and a pool.

So take your pick.

By the way, how do you intend to get a visa ect? Are one of you American?
It can be very difficult under other circumstances.
All the best though.

BrigieDarling

What picture? If you mean the pink fluffy slippers one no... on the Brigie page, Yes!

NC Penguin

Don't wish to "rain on your parade" but are you clear about how you and your family will legally immigrate to the US in general?

Knowing your eligibility and how to attain the precious visa is as important as knowing where you'd live (also gives you a great introduction to US government bureaucracy).



NC Penguin

Tone

I live in Clearwater, but on the Bayside, not the beaches side, and its just fine. A few Brit bars scattered about, the Rose and Crown and Red Lion being ones that I've been to.

DanB

We have friends who emmigrated to Chicago last year after waiting just over 3 years for a visa!! So we know these things take time (and money) Maybe its just a dream who knows.

We both have pretty good jobs ( long hours but good pay) but in return it feels like we are missing out living!!

Perhaps its an early midlife crisis - I will be 30 in April - but we feel there has to be more to life than slogging your guts out for 47 weeks of the year and having a few weeks relaxing.
I'm not saying life anywhere else would be easy but it has be more interesting, more enjoyable..?

Everyone we speak to who has left the UK speak so highly about quality of life (we have friends in France, America, Oz and NZ) that everything is a lot slower, they have time to enjoy life rather than watch it fly past?
Again perhaps its just us, maybe America isnt right for us but I cant wait to find out.

BrigieDarling

I say go for it... Something must be telling you it's the right thing to do! Keep us updated though!

ladyofthelake

Ermm.......you do realise you're most likely end up working 50 weeks a year with just a handful of public holidays thrown in?

excpomea

LOL your right there, I have to work much longer hrs here than I ever had to in the UK.
Mind you we have a holiday for every possible reason under the sun.

Ray

Hi Dan....Jeez your 30...I have socks older than you .. Yes I think you have the rose colored specs on...very common with vacationers....believe me you would work harder and for longer hours here than you ever will in the UK...Christmas is one day off thats it...And as a previous poster said Florida is one of the lowest paying States....I don't know what you visited on your trip here, touristy places no doubt...Thats not Florida...On your next trip take a drive away from those places go to the back streets of Clearwater and St Petes...Your eyes will be opened...But its a good dream..

NC Penguin

Life is what you make it. Leaving the UK for another country is one way to go but you have to start from scratch and since you have children, you have to put their considerations very high in your priorities about whether/when/where to move to.

As other posters have noted, Americans work longer hours than the British and generally have fewer paid vacations (these aren't even mandatory). Factor this in when you are looking for a better quality of life. This'll mean less time with your family, friends and just simply time for yourself.

See my comments in the paragraph above. You have to compare like with like. Do you know what people in your industry earn in the US? What about in Florida itself? Have you done any research into commuting times in Florida?


NC Penguin


<<snip>>

Yosser

If you want a slower paced life Dan it might be a better idea to move to Oz or New Zealand, the U.S is very faced paced more so than England. Florida is a great state I love it there, we have been on holiday there 3 times and my wife and I always talk about moving there. We live in Texas its a 12 hour drive to the Florida pan handle (northwest part) so that way we have a good standard of living, excellent airports, cheap fuel etc and very cheap houses, maybe you should think of living in other states and just go to Florida on vacation??? just a thought.

I lived in Perth (Oz) for a year, its VERY laid back and the cleanest city I've ever been too, but from my understanding the economy is bad partically with employment etc. One thing about the Aussies....Leisure 1ST - work 2nd.

In the last year I have had 3 days vacation (unpaid) and a few bank holidays...BUT the climate here is great so we spend alot of time on the lake etc on the weekends enjoying time with the family, grilling out and drinking plenty of fluids

We are the same age, and IF you want a change now is the time to do it otherwise it will be another case of "I wish I had"...

Go for it mate!